Dreaming of His Pen Pal's Kiss - Jessie Gussman Page 0,15

a conversation I don’t want to have.

I guess we just had it though, didn’t we?

Your other question...do I like to laugh?

Is there anyone who would say no to that? I sure wouldn’t.

There’s a lot of people who might be surprised at that because I am pretty serious and driven. Having the accident maybe made me see that. I wouldn’t have called myself serious necessarily before that.

Driven, yes, I’ve always been driven. But I kind of have excuses for it. Reasons I feel like I do. You know, your childhood shapes you. And I wanted to make something out of my life. And I knew that if that was going to happen, I was going to have to work for it, because no one was going to hand me anything. I was a pretty scrappy kid, in case you didn’t notice.

I guess I’m a pretty scrappy adult too.

I hope you can be friends with a scrappy fella.

So how’s our garden growing? And yeah, as I wrote that, I was thinking your name must be Mary. Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

I guess I can’t really call it our garden if I’m not helping you.

Next year.

So, I know you like gardens and water and you only had one boyfriend.

Tell me something more.

Friends talk to each other,

Computer Geek

DEAR COMPUTER GEEK,

I can’t believe you’re giving me a hard time for only having one boyfriend.

Isn’t it a lot less normal for you to have girls that you’re not even sure whether you can call them your girlfriends or not?

Is that the way people do things nowadays?

I’m seriously asking that question too. I live in a small town. I’m not the only one who’s only ever had one boyfriend.

My sister has never had a boyfriend. She’s too wrapped up in her horses to even notice that there is such a thing as boys.

I think she’s kind of intimidating to guys too. She’s pretty competitive, and everything she tries, she’s extremely successful.

Although her best friend is a boy. Really, he’s her best friend like a friend, friend. The kind of friends that you and I are. I don’t think that they realize that boys and girls do things other than work together and goof off together.

It’s funny, I can’t use her name, but my sister and I are so different, yet we get along really well. Sometimes, I think opposites attract because they complement each other.

Haven’t figured out whether you and I are opposites yet.

So there, you know I have a sister. I also like ice cream.

And I like to laugh. Like everyone, I guess. Although, I almost want to disagree with you on that. I’ve met more than one person who acts like laughing is sin.

Eating ice cream and laughing,

The Healing Pen

DEAR HEALING PEN,

Everyone likes ice cream.

I’m digging, because I know there are things about you that are really neat and cool and unique, and I want to know them. Every time you give me one of those things—you like laughing, you like ice cream—it just makes me want to dig harder until I find out those things—the unique things that make you special—I know are there.

I’m guessing you like chocolate too. Since everyone does, except me.

I’m a fruit guy. I suppose in more ways in one. (That was a joke. I guess it’s not much of a joke if I have to point it out to you, is it?)

What’s your favorite vegetable? Although, I suppose just because you garden doesn’t mean you like vegetables. Especially since you’re doing it for looks.

Do you grow houseplants? Maybe you’ve painted the walls in your room purple?

Do you wear sandals in the winter?

Maybe you have a beard? (I know that it’s shallow for me to care how you look, and honestly, I mostly don’t. I’m not sure how I feel about a beard though. On you. I actually do have a beard. I’ve been told girls like beards. I suppose that’s why I have one. Because I don’t really give a flip whether I have hair on my face or not, although hair is easier since then I don’t have to shave.)

All right, I want to know about you, and I end up talking about myself. The next letter you send better have a bunch of personal stuff in it so you can satisfy my curiosity.

Waiting impatiently,

Computer Geek

PS. I’m going to email you a link for the app prototype. I think you’re going to be pleasantly impressed. If you’re not, break it to me gently. I’m